Exchange programs play an essential role in our collective quest for peace and prosperity. They create opportunities for participants to learn, prosper, and work with others to solve shared problems and ensure a secure future. Exchanges allow future leaders to instinctively appreciate the value of international collaboration, understanding, and empathy. A key feature of public diplomacy, exchanges are more important than ever.
Seventy-five years ago, the Fulbright Program was established with an ambitious goal – to increase mutual understanding and peaceful relations between the people of the United States and those of countries across the world. This powerful message has carried through to today. Just over 30 years ago, Canada joined the prestigious worldwide Fulbright program. Since then, the program has grown by leaps and bounds.
We are proud to commemorate over 30 years of the Fulbright Program in Canada. Despite current restrictions preventing us from celebrating in person, we found ways to highlight the impactful work we have supported. In celebration of these two significant anniversaries, we are thrilled to announce the launch of “In Conversation With: A Fulbright Canada Podcast” hosted by 2020 Fulbright Canada alumna Cheryl Cheung. I encourage you to visit our website to listen to the stories of some of our incredible alumni.
As we look back on the past year, which had its challenges, I am inspired by the strength and resiliency demonstrated by our grantees, partners, dedicated board, and colleagues at the Foundation. We came together to find ways to meaningly engage in academic exchange and, as they say, to carry on.
Despite the many obstacles we faced as a community, Fulbright Canada has successfully supported its largest cohort of grantees participating in academic exchange. Once again, our scholars rose to the challenge posed by our ever-changing realities, realizing the importance of international education and the critical role that academic scholarship plays in a world that is transforming itself before our very eyes.
Your continued support has allowed us to grow the Fulbright Program in Canada, and I am pleased to share a few examples of our accomplishments over the past year.
- * In partnership with the Samuel Centre for Social Connectedness, the Harvard Kennedy School, and the Luminary Network, we launched Honouring Nations Canada, an Indigenous-led and Indigenous-informed initiative to highlight excellence in Indigenous governance while supporting Indigenous scholarship.
- * We supported 68 talented American students who undertook virtual research projects with Canadian professors over the summer under the new Fulbright Canada–Mitacs Globalink Program.
- * The Post-COVID Challenge received over 500 applications from bright young leaders from across Canada and the U.S. Over the summer, 26 quarter-finalist teams presented their projects during a week-long virtual. Ten teams were chosen to advance to the finals and continue to develop their innovative projects.
The Fulbright Canada team welcomed a number of new colleagues this past year.
Dr. Ralph Nilson, fresh off a decade as President of Vancouver Island University, joined us in the newly created role as Fulbright Canada President Emeritus in Residence. Ms. Kim Samuel was recently appointed as Fulbright Canada Ambassador for Diversity and Social Connectedness, another newly created role that re-affirms our ongoing commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, access, and belonging. Robin McLay, an alum and long-time supporter of the program, assumed the role of Special Advisor to the CEO and Director of the Fulbright Canada West office. Through the generous support of the University of Saskatchewan, Candace Wasacase-Lafferty, a Saulteaux and Cree citizen of the Kahkewistahaw First Nation and Senior Director Indigenous Engagement at the University of Saskatchewan, assumed the leadership of Honouring Nations Canada. We also added two new Education USA advisors. Hang Lyu is our new Toronto-based Education USA Advisor and Zhaoying Hu is our new Vancouver-based Education USA Advisor.
The work that we support is more critical now than ever. With the continued support and commitment of our partners, colleagues, and alumni, we have navigated a generation-defining event. I would like to report that the public health emergency is behind us, but, alas, we are still in the throes of the pandemic and will need to remain both flexible and vigilent.
There is no better way to close out 2021 than to thank everyone for trusting us, for allowing us to play a part in their daily lives, and to forge ahead. Our successes over the past year reflect the persistence, optimism, commitment, and dedication of the entire Fulbright Canada family.
I hope that everyone is safe, healthy, and positive as we navigate the latest iteration of the public health emergency and look forward to a less complicated 2022.
Happy holidays,
